Recommend a €500 flat bar road bike pls

RobAMerc

Hi all,

Decided to buy a commuter bike on the CTW scheme.
Budget is €500 or less. I like the flat bar road bikes, as I am used to my Allez, and having thought about the fixie I've gone off the idea.

So, I am thinking -

CB Levante - had one before and loved it but heard they are fragile.
LaPierre RCR 100 - know nothing of them (opinions pls)
BH Volan Sora ( I think ) - Had BH before and thought it expensive for what it is
Giant FCR - again know nothing of them
Specialized Sirrus - not sure its in budget

Any other options ?

thanks
Rob

Ghost Rider

I have an FCR3 and like it a lot, though I use a singlespeed for commuting as there's less to worry about. Be aware that the current FCR3 has a lower-level groupset than it did when I bought mine.

RobAMerc wrote: »

Hi all,

Decided to buy a commuter bike on the CTW scheme.
Budget is €500 or less. I like the flat bar road bikes, as I am used to my Allez, and having thought about the fixie I've gone off the idea.

So, I am thinking -

CB Levante - had one before and loved it but heard they are fragile.
LaPierre RCR 100 - know nothing of them (opinions pls)
BH Volan Sora ( I think ) - Had BH before and thought it expensive for what it is
Giant FCR - again know nothing of them
Specialized Sirrus - not sure its in budget

Any other options ?

thanks
Rob

RobAMerc

I am thinking I am going to go with the RCR 100 - I have tried one before and liked it.
I have heard the Levante is "soft" and 2 shops I rang recommended other bikes over the FCR 3 - although it looks great.

kenmc

If you can stretch to the RCR300 over the 100 I would, carbon forks, road based gearing ratios more so than the MTB ones on the 100. That said the 100 is also very good.
I have FCR2, if the 3 is anything near as good it'll be also very good.
What bikes are the shops (which shops?) recommending over the FCR out of interest?

RobAMerc

kenmc wrote: »

What bikes are the shops (which shops?) recommending over the FCR out of interest?

cycle superstore said the lapierre is head and shoulders better than the FCR and Hollingsworth said the Levante is better than the FCR

Thanks for the advice on the 300 - but my budget started at 300 - 500 is bad but any more is divorce I'd say.

Thanks
Rob

penexpers

RobAMerc wrote: »

cycle superstore said the lapierre is head and shoulders better than the FCR

They would say that.

DirkVoodoo

Yeah the Lapierre is nice but its not as good as an FCR.

Plus the RCR100 has foam grips, not nice in the rain (or at least the old model did).

Get some good reviews and customer opinions, as helpful as most bike shops are, some might favor one brand over another for no good reason.

kenmc

I'd say CSS is pushing the lapierre cos they always do - probably better margins.

But I can't think of anyone in their right mind who would class Claud Butler as being better than Giant? Maybe they have the CB in stock and looking to make a sale rather than ordering in the FCR and maybe you decide against it?

RobAMerc

Yea - margins did pop into my mind - although the CB levante is reduced from 599 I think to 469 so it made sense they'd tell me it was better than the 450 Giant, and having owned one before they pretty much are exactly what I am after.

Lapierre always seemed a touch expensive compared to similarly priced others no ?

So the folk here say FCR ?

kenmc

My slightly biased view being an FCR owner is FCR. Followed by RCR. I'd put the CB down into the 2nd division - personally wouldn't touch it with a bargepole - had a CB mountain bike years ago, was a hefty piece of sh1t.

dub_skav

I have an RCR 500 and love it. It probably is something to do with margins that the lads in CSS push Lapierre, but I have no complaints with the bike or after sales service.

If you're interested in a 2nd hand RCR 500 I was contemplating putting mine on adverts so that I can use the government scheme to upgrade to a good road-bike.

It's a 2007 56 frame, if you're interested let me know.

RobAMerc

dub_skav wrote: »

I have an RCR 500 and love it. It probably is something to do with margins that the lads in CSS push Lapierre, but I have no complaints with the bike or after sales service.

If you're interested in a 2nd hand RCR 500 I was contemplating putting mine on adverts so that I can use the government scheme to upgrade to a good road-bike.

It's a 2007 56 frame, if you're interested let me know.

Thanks but I intend on using the scheme myself to buy the bike sorry.

RobAMerc

Ok - hollingsworth will do the FCR3 with Gatorskins for €530
That'll do I think

thanks for all the help folks

Tails

Hey Im selling a sirrus its 6 months old, PM if your interested.

cormacjones

I'm intersted in getting a decent bike. how much are you looking for the Sirrus. What model is it?

brian.mckeon

I have a 2yo FCR3 that I use for commuting. I've had no problems with it and it's a good versatile workhorse. It has enough clearance for 28 tyres, full mudguards and a rack at the same time, which is important for anyone commuting in Ireland.

Of course, I got bored and got some drops and second hand Sora Groupset on it, together with Canti brakes. So now it's kind of a mutant Crosser. My one has the same frame angles as the OCR of the time, so it doesn't look too mad.

Anyway, great bike, would recommend it.

BostonB

What tyres do ye have on your commuter?

brian.mckeon

I'm still running some type of Kenda's that were on it when I got it. They're clunky, but still puncture free.

Mind you, when they start acting up I'd pick one of the Schwalbe Marathon range. Good reviews all round.

I've commuted on Conti Gatorskins 23's, but they skidded a lot in the heavy rain and felt a bit unsafe on a heavy commuting bike.

BostonB

I've been looking for something similar and was pushed towards the Sirrus Sport at €440. For some reason it doesn't grab me. I was kinda thinking of FCR myself, something closer to a road bike, as most of the roads are decent on my route. Though I'm waiting on the CTW scheme, and maybe it won't happen till the end of the summer.

Bit left of center but I also thought the Carerra Gyphon V-Spec looked a good deal. (Yeah I know halfords) but it gets good reviews from people who had them, and who eventually move to a road bike.

7005 aluminium semi-compact frame with mudguard and rack eyes
Rigid fork, cro-moly blades, mudguard and low rider eyes
16 speed, SRAM SX4 rear mech and SX4 triggers
Prowheel Gloria 50-36 with cartridge bottom bracket
Tektro Alloy V brakes and levers
DBR-1 double wall cnc rims on Formula hubs with rim wear indicators
Innova 700-28c tyres
Flip flop stem, flat bars and toe clip pedals
Clearance for up to 32c tyres and mudguards
Weight: approx. 11.8kg

Maybe I'll leave the CTW for something much better later in the year.

cormacjones

What do you make of the Claud Butler Chinook or Levante. Also would you recommend the FCR1 over the FCR3?

What's the best shop in Dublin in your opinion for this type of bike? Cycleways on Parnell St. or would I be better off going to Cycle Super Stores?